just wait and see

When I first moved back home after graduating (29th of June) I wrote out a few short term goals that I wanted to accomplish before I left to go travelling. I had originally given myself 3 months to achieve these but I changed my mind on when I wanted to leave, giving myself 2 months instead.

Here are the goals I wrote down:

1) Financial;
Save up an extra $3,000 – $4,000 for Trip.
2) Fitness:
Weigh 85kg and still have ABS (<10% bodyfat). Have consolidated the gains by doing high rep training (Endurance).
3) Learning:
i) Have read books and gained an elementary understanding in Chemistry, Biology, Contract Law, Employment Law, Investment Science and Mathematics.
ii) Further progress in programming. Finished tutorials, Read CPU and Assembly. Redo Python. Learn Android development and look into the game programming tutorials.

So to review:

1) The financial goal was a complete failure. I didn’t end up getting a job, mostly because I felt bad that I would only be around for a couple months. I did keep down my expenses however so I didn’t lose to much money.

2) Fitness was reasonably successful. I managed to get to 80kgs (Starting at 70kgs), I am probably a little above the 10% bodyfat (abs are there but only just) but I didn’t really get around to the consolidation training (If that is even a thing which I am not too sure about anyway).

3) Learning was pretty good. With a bit of discipline I managed to cut out television and video games (Mostly) and my spare time was dedicated to reading.

i) Although I did read 200 pages of an introductory Chemistry textbook, the science topics tried to learn mostly through Khan Academy Video’s and Crash Course youtube. The Law subjects I couldn’t find a good textbook for so I never got around to it. I have a couple Investment books I need to read still, and I read an introductory book on Mathematics.

I did deviate a bit reading a few books outside these area’s. These included Steve Jobs Biography; his favourite book – Autobiography of a Yogi (Which was really spiritual and an area I hadn’t really ever looked into);  A few books on Philosophy. And I got into the history documentaries on youtube.

ii) I was actually really glad I was able to get back into my programming. I got half way through my tutorials before getting stuck (problem with virtualising the operating system which I couldn’t do much about). I Read 2 books on CPU’s and Assembly/Machine Code. 2 more books on introductory Python. And I am currently a third of the way through an introductory android development book.

Misc other things I did:

Pulled apart an engine, started meditating (Which I need to do more), and kinda importantly I got my head around what I was going to do with my life (Transitioning from College life to the real world).

For the future:

I want my programming skill to increase further, the ouya comes out mid next year and I would like to be able to make Indi games on it. This will require finishing my book on android development, then another on android game development. Some stuff on web development and I need to look into the whole games engine topic (I have a good tutorial on game development with direct X which I think will work). Also some stuff on IT administration might be important.

I am also really liking the philosophy books, I want to read more of these and start writing about philosophical ideas.

Anyway I am pretty happy with the progress I made over the last 2 months, I probably should have worked, It wouldn’t have interrupted my other goals too much plus more money for travelling would have been nice.